The wedding photos from your wedding day are pictures that you will cherish for a
lifetime but you only get one chance at getting these pictures.

If you don’t have a wedding photographer for your wedding or you have an incompetent
photographer, you may miss out on having wedding photos from critical points of your wedding or reception. There
are no do-overs or re-enactments in a wedding so it is important to have a wedding
photographer who is capable of documenting your wedding with style and precision.

It is also important to hire an experienced wedding
photographer who is capable of producingwedding photos that capture
you and your wedding party in their best light.

The following are all tips for choosing a wedding photographer who is qualified to
shoot your wedding. The power of references cannot be underestimated in choosing a wedding
photographer. A photographer with a long list of references who are willing to speak to potential
clients and an even longer list of testimonials from satisfied clients is an excellent indication of a photographer
who will do a great job of photographing your wedding. It is important to contact each of these references and ask
them questions about the photographer and their opinions of his work. You can use this opportunity to get a sense
of the photographer’s ability to take pictures as well as his attitude towards his client. You will want to choose
a wedding photographer who is both talented as well as courteous towards his clients.

One of the best ways to choose a wedding photographer is to pick a
photographer that was used by a trusted friend or family member. If they had a positive experience with a
particular photographer and highly recommend him, it is likely that you will also be glad that you chose this
photographer. If you do not have a personal reference that you trust for a particular wedding
photographer you might want to consult the Better Business Bureau for additional information about
the photographer. Here you will be able to find out if the client has had a number of unresolved complaints filed
against him. While you may not be able to determine the nature of the complaints, a large number of complaints for
any reason is not a sign of good business practices.

Viewing the wedding photographer’s portfolio is also an important step in choosing a wedding
photographer.

Since the portfolio contains actual pictures taken by the wedding photographer
they will give you a good indication of his or her capabilities. It will also give you a sense of his style.
Chances are that if you like the wedding photos in his portfolio you will probably also
like the pictures that he takes at your wedding. Once you have narrowed down your wedding
photographer choices to a few candidates based on their previous work and reputations, it is time to
start discussing price. You may find that one or all of the candidates are completely out of your price range. If
they are all out of your price range and none of them are willing to negotiate, you may have to go back to the
drawing boards and choose another candidate who may not meet all of your criteria but who is likely to fall within
your price range. When considering price, it is important to factor in what is included in the price that the
wedding photographer quotes you.

Some items to consider are, how many prints will you receive and what will
be the sizes of these prints. You may also want to find out if the price includes the proofs and the
negatives. This is valuable because the proofs give you access to every single picture thewedding
photographer took during the course of the wedding and the negatives allow you to create
reprints at your discretion. Your wedding photos will likely be one of the most cherished, tangible souvenirs
from your wedding day. You will be able to look through your photos one day and reminisce about your wedding
day.

You can also share the pictures with your children and grandchildren in the future as a way of filling them in
on some of the details of your life. Since these pictures are so important, it is equally important to exercise
caution and good judgment when choosing a wedding photographer.

Schedule an Appointment:

When you have chosen the wedding photographer you think you want to use, you will have to
schedule several appointments. The bride and groom, the brides parents and anyone else who may be taking part in
paying for the wedding should be present at these meetings regarding the wedding photography.

At these meetings, you will discuss price, payment schedule and possible deposits. Next you will discuss the plan
for taking the photos. Many people also get video and digital photographs now. Do you want these? Will your
wedding photographer be able to provide these? Will there be extra fees?

Many people have specific plans as to what they want pictures of (e.g. bride and father coming down the aisle,
bride and groom, rings exchanging, the kiss, the bridesmaids, etc.) This is your chance to get all this written
down so that the photographer is sure to get all the shots you want. Other people give their wedding
photographers a little more freedom to decide what pictures will be good to take.

Be sure to ask any questions you have about this important event. Your wedding photography is important to
you so don't hesitate to be clear about what you want.